ALPHA MAG

Ty Simpson had just 15 career starts at quarterback for Alabama in college, but he doesn't see that as a problem heading into the NFL Draft.

"I feel like I'm ready," Simpson said Fridayvia Spencer German of 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland. "I'm a franchise quarterback."

He'll just need one NFL team to agree.

Simpson is projected to be the second quarterback off the board in the NFL Draft, but long after Fernando Mendoza, whois expected to go first overallto the Las Vegas Raiders. Simpson is the only quarterback other than Mendoza inthe latest mock draft first round from Yahoo Sports' Nate Tice and Charles McDonald.

Simpson's case is more complicated than Mendoza or many other first-round quarterbacks. Simpson barely played his first three seasons at Alabama, attempting only 50 passes. Then he emerged last season.

He played well, but lack of experience is a stumbling point for many NFL teams looking at a quarterback early in the draft. Simpson knows that and argued that his college experience was more than just the games. He mentioned his freshman season lining up in practice against a defense that included future NFL starters like Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr.

"The Alabama locker room is as close to a locker room in the NFL as you can get," Simpson said on the podium during his NFL scouting combine media availability,via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

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The one thing working in Simpson's favor is he was really good last season. He threw for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns with only five interceptions. He played through injuries over the latter part of the season, or the numbers might have been even better.

It was just one season starting, but Simpson said he learned a lot over the course of it.

"I had command of the offense, I had command of the line of scrimmage, and I think that's what helped us a lot getting us in the right play call, getting us in the right check and getting us the right protection," Simpson saidvia Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram and Medina Gazette.

"I did a better job later in the year taking completions and cutting the field in half and taking what they give me. But I also think later during the year, instead of worrying about other stuff like the rush or what blitz are they bringing or how are they pressuring, staying in the pocket and maybe taking a hit. Better pocket presence."

That's the type of progress teams would expect to see from a first-time starter.

"Just simple stuff that is easy fixes but you can get caught up in," Simpson said.

ecause this quarterback class isn't very deep at the top, it could push Simpson up. This offseason there are multiple teams looking for a quarterback of the future and a quarterback to start now as well. Perhaps a team later in the first round could draft Simpson and let him learn for a year. Teams like the Jets and Rams have extra first-round picks and different quarterback issues to solve — the Rams need to find an eventual replacement for Matthew Stafford while the Jets don't have anyone viable at all for 2026 — so perhaps one of those teams ends up as a landing spot.

There aren't many obvious future starting NFL quarterbacks in this draft class. Simpson will wait to see which team views him as one.

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United's cost forfiring Ruben Amorimcould reach 15.9 million pounds ($21.4 million), the Premier League club said in a financial filing.

Manchester United Amorim Costs

Amorim was fired as head coach on Jan. 5 after just 14 months in the job, with the announcement coming shortly after he madeprovocative commentsabout his position within United's hierarchy.

"A charge of £6.3 million for the write-off of related intangible assets and a provision of £15.9 million, representing the maximum potential amount of future settlement payments, will be recognized in the statement of profit or (loss) during the second half of the year ending 30 June 2026," the club wrote of its Amorim-related costs.

The 6.3 million pounds ($8.5 million) is related to the cost ofhiring Amorimfrom Sporting Lisbon in November 2024.

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The figure of 15.9 million pounds represents United's potential maximum owed to Amorim and his coaching staff. The filing didn't specify but media reports indicate the final figure includes factors such as if, or when, Amorim gets a new job.

United's share price closed at $17.62 Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange. The club isowned by the Glazer familyfrom the United States andBritish billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.

The 20-time English champion hashired Michael Carrickon a contract to the end of the season, and the former United player has overseen the team's rise to fourth place in the Premier League ahead of Sunday's game against Crystal Palace.

AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

VIENNA (AP) — Iran has not allowed the United Nations nuclear agency access to itsnuclear facilitiesbombed by Iran and the United States during a12-day warin June, according to a confidential report by the watchdog circulated to member states and seen Friday by The Associated Press.

Ukraine-Nuclear-Risks

The report from the International Atomic Energy Agency stressed that it "cannot verify whether Iran has suspended all enrichment-related activities," or the "size of Iran's uranium stockpile at the affected nuclear facilities."

Iran has four declared enrichment facilities, but the report warned that because of the lack of access, the IAEA "cannot provide any information on the current size, composition or whereabouts of the stockpile of enriched uranium in Iran."

The report stressed that the "loss of continuity of knowledge ... needs to be addressed with the utmost urgency."

Iran has long insisted its program is peaceful, but the IAEA and Western nations say Tehran had an organized nuclear weapons program up until 2003. The U.S. is seeking a deal to limit Iran's nuclear program and ensure it does not develop nuclear weapons.

Highly enriched material should be verified regularly

The IAEA reported that Iran had informed the agency in a letter dated Feb. 2 that normal safeguards were "legally untenable and materially impracticable," as a result of threats and "acts of aggression."

The confidential report also said Friday that Iran did provide access to IAEA inspectors "to each of the unaffected nuclear facilities at least once" since June 2025, with the exception of a power plant at Karun that is under construction.

Iran is legally obliged to cooperate with the IAEA under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, butsuspended all cooperationafter the war with Israel.

According to the IAEA, Iran maintains a stockpile of 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60% purity — a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.

That stockpile could allow Iran to build as many as 10 nuclear bombs, should it decide to weaponize its program, IAEA director general Rafael Grossi warned in arecent interview with the AP. He added that it doesn't mean that Iran has such a weapon.

Such highly enriched nuclear material should normally be verified every month, according to the IAEA's guidelines.

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IAEA observes activity around nuclear sites

In the absence of direct access to the nuclear sites, the IAEA turned to commercially available satellite imagery.

Observation of the Isfahan facility, some 350 kilometers (215 miles) southeast of Tehran, showed "regular vehicular activity" around the entrance to a tunnel complex used to store enriched material, the report said.

Isfahan was struck by both Israel and the United States in June.

The IAEA said it also observed activity at the enrichment sites in Natanz and Fordow, but added that "without access to these facilities it is not possible for the Agency to confirm the nature and the purpose of the activities."

IAEA joined Geneva talks

The IAEA reported on Friday that Grossi attended negotiations between the U.S. and Iran on Feb. 17 and Feb. 26 in Geneva at which he "provided advice" on the verification of Iran's nuclear program. The report said that those negotiations are "ongoing."

Thursday's talks, the third round this year under Omani mediation, ended without a deal, leaving the danger of another Mideast war on the table as the U.S. has gathered a massive fleet ofaircraft and warshipsin the region.

An Omani official said lower-level technical talks would continue next week in Vienna, the home of the IAEA. The agency is likely to be critical in any deal.

Iran says it is not pursuing weapons and has so far resisted demands that it halt uranium enrichment on its soil or hand over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Similar talks last year between the U.S. and Iran about Iran's nuclear program broke down after the start of the war in June. Before then, Iran had beenenriching uranium up to 60% purity.

The Associated Press receives support for nuclear security coverage fromthe Carnegie Corporation of New YorkandOutrider Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ Additional AP coverage of the nuclear landscape:https://apnews.com/projects/the-new-nuclear-landscape/

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tyrese Maxey usually gifts his milestone basketballs and other valuable career keepsakes to his mother.

All-Star Weekend Basketball

Denyse Maxey might have a tough time taking possession of her son's latest game ball.

For starters,Tyrese Maxeyclutched the basketball from the moment he walked off the court of the76ers' latest winall the way through the postgame news conference and back into the locker room. Like an elite guard,Maxeyseemed in no hurry to cough up the ball.

Also, Mom didn't show up Thursday night to get the ball.

"She wasn't here tonight," Maxey said, laughing.

He then tapped the mic for added effect: "Mom, that's crazy that you didn't come to my game."

Had Maxey's mother been among the sellout crowd of 19,746 fans at the 76ers' win over Miami, she would have witnessed a little slice of history.

For a franchise that boasts10 retired numbers, Maxey stands alone at No. 1 on the team's career3-point list. The 25-year-old Maxey was serenaded with "MVP!" chants as he hit five 3s against the Heat to pass Allen Iverson (whose No. 3 is one of those retired numbers) and finish the game with a record 887 — and counting.

"AI is somebody who we've all looked up to, who I looked up to as a small guard," Maxey said. "To be able to pass him in anything in basketball, that's cool."

Maxey keeps racking up the milestones in his sixth season since the 76ers took him 21st overall out of Kentucky in the 2020 draft.

He was voted anAll-Star starterfor the first time, participated in the 3-point shooting contest and is averaging career highs in most major categories, including points-per-game (29.1). Playing for a franchise that made load management in vogue in the NBA, Maxey leads the league in minutes with 38.4 per game.

"A lot of it is just opportunity," 76ers coach Nick Nurse said. "A lot of it is confidence. A lot of it is the work he's put in. It's all those kind of rolled into one."

Maxey was expected to be a spoke in the wheel when he was drafted.

The 76ers belonged toJoel Embiidand Ben Simmons and were supposed to for at least a decade. Until Simmons' career collapsed. Then the Sixers were tethered to Embiid and James Harden. Until Harden wanted out in an ugly professional divorce.

With his joyous attitude and fan friendliness that's made him one of Philadelphia's most popular athletes, Maxey was there all along waiting for his chance to prove that, yes, he could be an elite franchise player. Maxey scored50 pointsfor the first time in November 2023; the same season he earned his first All-Star game nod and was named the NBA'smost improved player.

"We know after the Harden thing went down, we had to put the ball in his hands a lot more," Nurse said. "I think he's still growing in that capacity, as well."

The 76ers count themselves lucky to have Maxey, thanks to shrewd scouting and, well, thanks also in part to current Phoenix Suns assistant coach Mike Muscala.

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Muscala hit a winning 3-pointerfor Oklahoma City in a fairly meaningless game against Miami in 2020, the pandemic season. Per terms of a previous trade, the 76ers had the Thunder's first-round pick unless it was in the top 20. But the Thunder's win in the NBA bubble meant the Sixers earned possession of the first-round selection, which was pick No. 21.

"I remember (assistant) Sam Cassell and I had kind of fallen on Maxey," former 76ers coach Doc Rivers said. "But there were a couple of guys in front of him that hadn't been drafted. And we were, like, in a silent panic. Somebody get these guys, somebody draft these guys. It all fell for us. It did. It really just fell right into our hands. It was nice."

Consider, Maxey set the 3-point record against the Heat, who took Precious Achiuwa (already on his third team) with the 20th overall pick.

"You re-draft that, he's at the very top somewhere, for sure," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said.

The 76ers sure aren't complaining about their luck in snagging Maxey.

Again, though, the Sixers tried to make Maxey just a piece of a Big Three ahead of the 2024 season when they signed Paul George to a four-year, $212 millionfree-agent contract. Maxey got paid, too, with a five-year, $204 million extension that gave the Sixers a high-priced, high-expectations road to a championship chase.

Like Simmons, like Harden, George was nowhere to be found for the Sixers on Thursday. He's in the midst of a25-game suspensionfor violating the terms of the NBA's anti-drug program.

As always, Maxey showed up.

He scored 28 points, added 11 assists and helped the Sixers stretch their lead over the Heat to 2 1/2 games for the sixth spot — the one that keeps them out of the play-in tournament — in the Eastern Conference.

"We need some signature home wins, man," Maxey said.

The 76ers got one — and another signature moment from Maxey.

For comparison, Maxey has 887 3s on 2,336 attempts (38%) in 375 career games. Iverson was 885 of 2,864 (31%) over 722 career games with the 76ers.

There's one more way Maxey would like to pass Iverson. Championships. Iverson never won one while Maxey is looking for his first.

Maxey believes the nucleus is set to win one in Philly — and he'll likely be the one to lead them.

"I know I have a coach and organization who believe in me and teammates who believe in me," Maxey said. "And when you have that it kind of pushes you to be even better than who you are."

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/nba

As February turns to March and themen's college basketball seasonwinds toward its conclusion, there are plenty of high-stakes offerings on this weekend's schedule for your viewing enjoyment. We can't promise two top-five clashes like we had last week in this space, but the slate makes up for that in quantity with no fewer than a half dozenUSA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll Top 25showdowns over the course of the weekend.

That lineup begins Friday night in theBig Tenand continues into a Saturday marathon that opens with a first-place showdown in the ACC and also features a doubleheader in theSEC.

BRACKETOLOGY:A new No. 1 seed emerges in March Madness projection

Without further ado then, let's get to this week's Starting Five – plus a few coming in off the bench.

No. 3 Michigan at No. 11 Illinois

Time/TV:Friday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox.

The Wolverines are three games clear in the Big Ten race entering the regular season's penultimate weekend, and in all likelihood they've already done enough to merit a No. 1 NCAA regional seed. The Fighting Illini's recent run of tough overtime losses cost them both of those goals, but a win here would provide a huge confidence boost heading into March. The good news for Brad Underwood's squad is Illinois is one of the few teams with the frontcourt strength and depth to match up with the Wolverines. The Illini also have more reliable perimeter shooting, thanks mainly to Keaton Wagler, but Michigan's Elliot Cadeau shook off his rough outing against Duke with a more accurate night against Minnesota.

No. 12 Virginia at No. 1 Duke

Time/TV:Saturday, noon ET, ESPN.

It's a surprising fight for the top position in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Blue Devils of course were expected to be in this position in the ACC. The new-look Cavaliers were more of a mystery at the start of the season but have meshed together well in Ryan Odom's initial campaign. Duke's Cameron Boozer is the odds-on favorite to be named league player of the year, but UVa's Thijs De Ridder has a strong case for all-conference accolades putting up 16.0 points and 6.3 rebounds a game.

No. 14 Kansas at No. 2 Arizona

Time/TV:Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN.

The Wildcats shook off their recent two-game skid and have retaken control of the crowded Big 12. The wildly inconsistent Jayhawks go for a rare season sweep of Arizona, but leaving the McKale Center with a win is never easy. KU's defensive effort against Houston in its most recent outing was arguably its best of the season, and Flory Bidunga and the rest of the Jayhawks will have to be just as connected to handle the Wildcats' numerous offensive threats. Arizona will still likely be without Koa Peat due to a leg injury, but Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley are also capable of taking over a game.

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No. 16 Texas Tech at No. 5 Iowa State

Time/TV:Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, CBS.

Elsewhere in the Big 12, the Cyclones look to add to their collection of quality home-court victories and stay in the hunt for a No. 1 NCAA seed. The game is no less important for the Red Raiders, who need to show they can still compete for a championship despite losing their best player. With J.T. Toppin sidelined, Texas Tech has relied more on long-range scoring from Christian Anderson and Donovan Atwell, but LeJuan Watts has also stepped up to help on the glass. Iowa State can get points in a variety of ways but is at its best when the ball finds Milan Momcilovic and Joshua Jefferson close to the bucket.

No. 18 Alabama at No. 22 Tennessee

Time/TV:Saturday, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN.

In truth these SEC contenders are more than likely playing for second place in the league at best, but securing a top-four seed in the upcoming conference tournament is an important priority. That became a concern for the Volunteers with their midweek loss at Missouri. Usually their solid team defense would give them an excellent chance to successfully defend their home court, but they need to find Crimson Tide sharpshooters Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway quickly. While it might appear at times that defense is optional for Alabama, the Tide at least need to limit second-chance opportunities for Vols standout freshman Nate Ament.

Villanova at No. 15 St. John's

Time/TV:Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox.

The Red Storm must putWednesday night's dismantling at the hands of Connecticutbehind them quickly as they return home to the more friendly environs of Madison Square Garden. But the game is just as vital for the Wildcats, whose March staying power remains very much in question. St. John's desperately needs a fast start to erase the memory of the 0-for-24 finish at UConn, which will likely mean getting Zuby Ejiofor involved early. Villanova will need Duke Brennan to hold his own on the boards and stay out of foul trouble.

No. 17 Arkansas at No. 7 Florida

Time/TV:Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

The Gators look to run their winning streak to nine and in the process lock up the SEC regular-season title. The Razorbacks must win in Gainesville then get some help in order to catch Florida, but they're also looking to continue the momentum of five wins in six games. The presence of Darius Acuff gives Arkansas a shot in every game, howevert the improved production from the Gators guard tandem of Xaivian Lee and Boogie Fland has raised the team's ceiling considerably.

No. 9 Gonzaga at Saint Mary's

Time/TV:Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

The day concludes with a final edition of West Coast Conference after dark, though there will probably be yet another encounter between these long-time league rivals in a little over a week before Gonzaga departs for the new Pac-12. Gonzaga has the top seed clinched, but the Gaels would nevertheless like to leave the Zags with one last impression of their Moraga, California, campus before the programs part ways. Graham Ike and the rest of Gonzaga's veteran lineup won't be rattled by a hostile student section, but the Saint Mary's interior defense of Andrew McKeever and Paulius Murauskas could prove more difficult to solve.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:College basketball schedule for weekend has March Madness implications

Austin Smotherman fired a bogey-free 9-under 62, including six straight birdies in the middle of his round, to take the first-round lead at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches on Thursday in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Smotherman, who has made 47 of 81 cuts in his career but never pocketed a tournament championship, had a great deal of success on the greens, saving par a couple of times and making some longer shots. The PGA credited him with 132 feet of putts made.

"The length of putts that I was making was nice to see, but I also felt like I hit a lot of good putts," Smotherman said. "The par save on 15 to kind of keep things going, a par save as well on 6 after a bad lag putt, that kind of kept things going."

He also credited a two-week break for helping his game.

"I came out here today excited to play," he said. "I'm glad I was an early tee time today, too, not having to wait around and maybe see other guys doing what they're doing. But I just wanted to get on the golf course.

"Felt like the game was in a good spot."

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Nico Echavarria of Colombia sits one back after a 63, while a six-man group featuring Taylor Moore, Jackson Suber, Kevin Roy, Daniel Berger, Norway's Kristoffer Reitan and Sweden's Pontus Nyholm rounded out the early chase pack with 4-under 67s.

Echavarria rallied from a slow start to his 2026 season, in which he has managed to miss the cut in four of five tourneys.

"The golf hasn't been that far off," Echavarria said, "I could tell today that having patience and just enjoying it out there was going to be the key for the day, and we did that."

Recent PGA Tour returnee Brooks Koepka never found much rhythm in his Florida return. He was 4-over for his last six holes, including a double bogey on the par-3 17th, and ended up with a 3-over 74 that left him buried in a tie for 98th heading into Friday.

David Ford's card was the opposite of steady. After starting his round on the back nine, Ford took a disastrous quadruple bogey at the 17th that saw him take multiple shots while standing in water. He then erased the damage in a hurry by holing out for eagle on both the 2nd and 3rd holes to finish at 1-over 72 in a tie for 68th.

"Yeah, it was silly," Ford said. "It's an uphill battle, but if I play the way I know I can, then I think I can at least finish up near the top of the leaderboard."

--Field Level Media

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The U.S. Embassy in Israel on Friday told its staff that it could leave the country and urged anyone considering departure to do so immediately, as thethreat of an American strike on Iranlooms.

U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee told embassy employees in an email that discussions with officials in Washington had led to a decision authorizing departures for those who wished to leave.

The email was recounted to The Associated Press by someone involved with the U.S. mission who wasn't authorized to share details. Sent before 10:30 a.m., it urged staff considering departure to do so quickly, advising them to to focus initially on getting any flight out of Israel and to then make their way to Washington.

"Those wishing to take AD should do so TODAY," Huckabee wrote, using an acronym for "authorized departure."

"While there may be outbound flights over the coming days, there may not be," he added.

Huckabee said that there was no need for panic, but for those desiring to leave, it was important to make plans soon.

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The email came a day afterIran and the United Stateswalked away from nuclear negotiations without a deal. Airlines such as Netherlands-based KLM have already announced plans to suspend flights out of Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport, and other embassies have also made plans for authorized departures from Israel and neighboring countries.

Australia on Wednesday "directed the departure of all dependents of Australian officials posted to Israel in response to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East." India and several European countries with missions in Iran advised citizens to avoid travel to the country as well.

On a town hall meeting Friday after the email was sent, Huckabee told staff that he was encouraging airlines to keep flying.

The departure authorizations signal a new level of contingency planning as a massive fleet of U.S.aircraft and warshipsmass in the Middle East.

Badr al-Busaidi, Oman's foreign minister who is mediating in the negotiations, said that there had been significant progress made on Thursday, though officials from Iran and the United States haven't announced steps forward.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday offered no specifics, but said "what needs to happen has been clearly spelled out from our side."

___ Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank.